From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Encounter to Revelation

The Lord is Risen indeed. The tomb is empty, inviting us inside, into this mystery of faith. It is in entering the tomb that we experience an encounter. Encounters are being present to the moment in faith – the God given moments. We are invited to the experience and encounter every day – the good, exciting, exhilarating and compassionate moments and in the opposite - the extreme, the difficult, treacherous and suffering moments of our lives which Christ endured too. But all in all, the reason for Christ’s death and resurrection, the symbol of the empty tomb, that we are invited to enter, is to encounter Christ and be lead to revelation. The revelation of Christ’s unencumbered and unconditional love for each one of us is to be known by name - called, created and chosen. Let us all accept the invitation, entering the tomb of Christ, to experience the encounter and his revelation.

God of the Journey, may all members of the Marist College family encounter in faith this Easter season and may Christ’s unconditional love be intimately revealed. Amen.

A Full and Exciting Term Ahead

Marist College Ashgrove is an excellent educational precinct and I’m so pleased to again be part of it.

I applaud and acknowledge the many undertakings, learnings and achievements of all the boys and staff over the course of Term 1, namely: Opening Mass, Investiture and Academic Awards ceremony at the Brisbane Convention Centre, orientation and information events, laptop rollouts, replacement of the formal hat, successful cricket, swimming, AFL and volleyball seasons, AFL First XVIII Premiers, environmental group activities, International Women's Day celebrations, university showcase, debating, successes of Reuben Simpson and Daniel Wuol, student, mother, father and Old Boys retreats, Easter liturgies, Lenten fundraisers, camps, new staff orientation days, Library Lovers Day, Interhouse Swimming Carnival, rugby and soccer programs and camps, Premier Concert, parent functions, Year 12 formal, College tours, NAPLAN and exam blocks, Marist Basketball Carnival, language and culture tour to New Caledonia; 'Joust' Year 5 Drama Production and Primary Awards.

What a wonderful term of opportunities, growth and learning for your son!

We are excited now to be entering all that Term 2 has to offer: Champagnat Day Mass and official opening and blessing of the new Primary building, academic interviews, Marist Reading Night, subject selection evenings, exam blocks culminating in the Semester 1 Reports, 'Jersey Boys’ musical, Mother's Day Breakfasts, Anzac Day services, rugby, soccer, chess and cross-country seasons, National Reconciliation Week, debating, senior work experience opportunities, Year 8 Formation Day, Year 5 Camp, ASCAM Photography Competition, Interhouse Cross Country, Autumn Concert, Aspects Art Show, Maths Olympiad, Ensembles Concert, National Boarding Week, Studio Concerts, College Community Mass – (Wednesday before school and Friday second half of Break 1), Blue and Gold Concert, Champagnat Trust Sports Lunch, Futures Week, Year 7 and 10 Immunisations, Theatre Ash performances, Year 5 Band and Strings concert, Interhouse Athletics carnival, Year 10 Respectful Relationships Seminar Day, Primary Athletics day, Year 12 Mother-Son Luncheon, Creative Industries Week, Vinnies Winter Sleepout, ‘Mates’ social justice activities, Rugby League Confraternity Shield Carnival and an immersion to East Timor.

I encourage all the boys to be as actively involved in as many of these opportunities and activities as possible, with their mates, throughout Term 2. May you take every opportunity to learn and grow.

It is great to be back from my term of personal leave and today I had my first opportunity to speak to our student body and to explain to them my absence for first term. I was both energised by our students and humbled by their understanding of the situation as outlined to you and our staff yesterday. We are aware that this news that I shared could have made some students and staff upset or in need to talk with someone. We have directed the boys and staff to the pastoral care contacts and counselling available at the College and for all families.

I wish to acknowledge and thank all my leadership team and those who generously took on acting roles at short notice in my absence, namely: Charles Brauer - Head of College, Jen Smeed - Deputy Head of College, Roxanne Rosenberg - Deputy Head of College –Learning and Teaching, and Adam Knight - Assistant Head of College Learning and Teaching. My thanks also to Katherine Badini who acted as Senior School Academic Care. They are a very talented and capable group of leaders - Marist Ashgrove is in good hands. The College Leadership Team’s emphasis and strong direction toward achieving the plans and directions set in our College Strategic Plan is to be commended. My sincere thanks on behalf of the Marist College family.

I trust that you have read the letter outlining the reasons for my leave and present circumstances as outlined by the National Director of Marist Schools Australia, Dr Frank Malloy. May I acknowledge wholeheartedly the kindness from many staff, parents, fellow Principals, Old Boys and the wider Marist family that have been expressed to me and my family.

In these difficult times, I draw inspiration from the words of Pope Francis: “Courage is first and foremost a victory against ourselves. Most of the fears that arise within us are unrealistic and do not come true at all. It is better then, to invoke the Holy Spirit and face everything with patient fortitude: one problem at a time, as we are able, but not alone!”

I very much look forward with optimism and commitment to Term 2 and again being part of all the exciting learnings and opportunities that lie ahead for your sons.

Be ready - it is an exciting term ahead!

Holiday Undertakings

During the Easter break, the College has continued to be a hive of activity. May I thank the numerous staff who have continued to undertake tasks within the College to prepared the campus and facilities for the boys. The following are the excellent works completed:

Primary Block 704-706 refurbishment
110 x solar panels on Admin building
Fall prevention mesh Alman Dwyer/Carrick West
New shade sails in the boarding courtyard
Tennis courts resurfacing
Drama rooms carpeted and new lighting
Water coolers serviced
Painting the Draney Theatre and pool building
New projector in Champagnat Centre for assemblies
Tower carpark lighting
External hire of boarding/classrooms/ovals led by administration, cleaners, kitchen
Hosting three funerals of Old Boys
General repairs and maintenance
Autumn cleaning of all areas within the College
Preparing ovals for Term 2 sport
Beautifying gardens and grounds
Fibre cabling in Carrick/Science/Tower
IT switch replacement
Teams Telephony optimisation
TASS upgrade
Fees, Billing, Wages and audits – Finance Team
Enrolments – increased 76 in 2024
Annual Report – website
Fundraising activities planning
HR – interviews and new staffing
Widening of road to the new Primary building
Completion of new Primary building (due May) and Cyprian refurb (due June)
Opening of new toilet block in Term 1

On behalf of the Marist College family, thank you to all those staff who have contributed to these undertakings.

New Staff

May I take this opportunity to welcome our new members of staff to the College as we commence Term 2. These staff have undertaken a day of inservicing on Monday and have been straight down to their teaching and responsibilities today.

Welcome to the Marist College family -

David Lamont – Maths Teacher
Wendy Macdonald – CL Science and Engineering
Allan Legge – Maths Teacher
Roshan Basnet – IT Service Desk Officer
Matthew Millwood – Sports Administration Co-ordinator
Jackson Harris – HPE School Officer
Anna Wilkens – Art Teacher
Luke Grimish – English/History Teacher
Jennifer Gretler – Director of Finance (Term 2 contract)
Lauren Vayro – English Teacher (Term 1 contract)

On behalf of the College, we welcome back the following teachers from leave and offer best wishes to our wonderful staff who are taking a much deserved break -

Teachers on LSL during Term 2

Melanie Taylor (all)
Toni Martin (all)
Peter Gaiter (one week)

Teachers Returning from Leave

Bonita Gerry
Tony Byrne

Boarding News

Thank you to all the teaching staff who helped with the Year 7 and 8 Marist Extend Program in Term 1. If you are interested in joining our Marist Extend Program in Years 7 or 8, simply contact: boardingreception@marash.qld.edu.au.

There are a number of regional trips and events planned to promote Marist boarding this term, including the Aspects Art Show in Goondiwindi, Beef Week in Rockhampton, Farmfest in Toowoomba, and the Cloncurry Show. We look forward to meeting many of our present familes and other new and interested families at these events in Term 2. Further boarding visits throughout the year will be advertised at a later date. For information on boarding enrolments, please contact: loanem@marash.qld.edu.au or 07 3011 1266.

Primary News

We are happy to welcome Mrs Catherine Barnett and Mrs Molly Kier’s classes into the refurbished classrooms of 705 and 706. Our thanks are extended to Mr Russell Randle, Mr James Dousi and the services staff for their construction and set-up of these refurbished classrooms.

Our new Primary building is due for completion around May. The furniture for the classrooms and the administration is being installed.

Thanks are extended to Mrs Jennifer Little (Primary Learning Leader), the IT Department, all Year 5 teachers and Primary Leaders for assisting our youngest boys to the College - our Year 5’s to settle in, become involved, complete their NAPLAN on-line and participate in the Gold Rush excursion. In Weeks 3 and 7 the boys look forward to the Year 5 Camp organised by Mr Anthony Graham (Pastoral Leader – Primary school).

Week 1 Events

In Week 1, we look forward to the following undertakings:

Parent Teacher Interviews: Monday 15th April (face to face) and Wednesday 24th April (ON-LINE) – bookings will reopen Wednesday 17 April and close Friday 19 April.
Winter Uniform (Including Formal Hats and Blazers – exception Years 8 and 9) for Term 2
Year 12 cohort photo and Firsts Team photos – Friday 19th April and Pastoral Group Photos Tuesday 23rd April
AIC Final Trial vs St Laurence’s College (Runcorn) – Soccer and Rugby – Saturday 20th April
College Musical rehearsals – Wednesday 17th and Monday 22nd April - 3.45-5.30pm
Primary Swimming and Cross-Country Carnivals – Friday 19th April
FareShare Charity Kitchen – Tuesday 23rd April, 5-9.30pm